This week I've dealt with the emotional and physical challenges that come from sleep deprivation, caring for a tiny newborn, pain while nursing, the physiological pendulum swing of hormones that accompanies the shift from pregnancy to nursing, and the continued challenges of anemia and wound healing following our wild birth. I've been weepy and then euphoric, irritated and then blissed-out. I'm fairly certain it's just the baby blues, but we're taking note of everything and discussing it with my midwives (btw, on a health update, we did learn yesterday that, in addition to Huxley's awesome weight gain, my blood pressure has gone way down-yeah! on the path towards being preeclampsia-free!!!-and my liver count is climbing steadily upwards!).
Hubs, in his eternal patience, wisdom, and love, gifted me with the above card/art piece yesterday. It couldn't have come at a better time. He is, at this very moment, mounting it onto a piece of weathered metal so that I can gaze contemplatively at it whenever I find myself needing a boost.
Spouses like mine are more than just life partners, they're true friends. Thanks, sweets.
10 comments:
That brought tears to my eyes...how beautiful! Hope you get to relax a bit this weekend! xo
lovely...reminds me of the stained glass work my dad used to do...
How lovely!
I remember, after my daughter was born, sitting on the floor in floods of tears one day because I couldn't figure out how to adjust the stroller, and I'd wanted to take the dog and new baby for a walk. Post-baby hormones, gotta love 'em. And now, two years later, I can at least look back and laugh about it. :)
Awww, I want one! (husband like that, I mean)
You are so blessed. :)
hang in there. i was a complete wreck after having my son but it does pass, and you slowly start feeling better and the discomfort of breast feeding eases. a highly recommend a good hypercal salve (calendula and hypericum) to soothe sore nipples during nursing.
You are blessed. What a beautiful post.
Ashley,
I am coming to visit you here for the first time from Design*Sponge because I loved your post on wabi sabi so much - and I am so glad I did! I am a new mama myself, with a 4 month old little boy, so I really connect with your feelings about new parenthood.
I just wanted to offer the little bit of support that I can from here. You are doing an AMAZING job. You just gave BIRTH for crying out loud! And it's perfectly alright to say that emphatically & out loud any time you are feeling overwhelmed :) xo Laura
So beautiful.
How nice, having love there everyday.
~Michele
Doing "nothing" is considered by some to be a spiritual practice. I know my little baby/guru taught me so much about patience. devotion, letting go of ego and finding a value in myself that went beyond accomplishment. There have been meltdowns from both of us along the way, but I'm a much better person for this transformational experience, and the love there is so, so worth it!
Be stubborn about getting help & working out the kinks w/breastfeeding until the pain goes away. It will! And the benefits of working through these issues are plentiful. Great work you are doing, mama. : )
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